Ethics Panel: Rep. Waters Treated Fairly, Case Can Go Forward

The House Ethics Committee has concluded that the rights of Rep. Maxine Waters have not been violated in an ongoing investigation.

The committee will now be able to continue its investigation. The panel is investigating whether the California Democrat, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, tried to steer money to a bank where her husband is a shareholder. Waters denies any wrongdoing.

Waters alleged that her rights were violated, in part by delays in the case and also by communications between committee staff and Republican committee members. The allegations led to the extraordinary decision in February by the committee's five Republicans and the top Democrat to withdraw from the Waters case.

A statement from the acting chairman and acting top Democrat says Waters has been treated fairly.